War Myths and Moral Injury

Myths of glory and young men achieving manliness through combat serve to obscure the inherent moral injury. Especially in this period of a perpetual state of war. Without clear good guys and greater good clearly accomplished, today’s soldiers, and the institution of the military itself, experience what’s called “moral injury.” Guest Vietnam War journalist and author Arnold “Skip” Isaacs describes what came out of a recent symposium on moral injury sponsored by the US Special Operations Command. Much to learn. Great monuments stand to reassure mothers and other loved ones that their son or daughter did not die in vain. But clinging to this explanation serves to perpetuate war. And Trump’s recent pardoning of war criminals only adds to the moral confusion of military personnel.